From the earliest time I can recall Santa Claus as the bearer of gifts, I also remember my delight after gifts were unwrapped, each toy played with, and the tree in all its lonely yet beautiful glory. The holidays were only a third of the way over. We still had New Year’s and best of all, Three Kings’ Day on January 6. This meant more gifts!
Celebrated predominantly throughout Latin American countries (and Holland), this holiday honors Balthazar, Gaspar and Melchior, three Magi from a priestly cast of ancient Persia. Upon receiving word of the pending birth of the ‘King of Kings,’ the trio made their way through the deserts of the Middle East guided by the North Star to Bethlehem. They arrived bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the newborn. To this day, the holiday is celebrated with parades headed by the Three Kings, schools and businesses close, and meals are prepared and shared among friends and family.
As a child growing up in Puerto Rico, I anticipated the coming of these desert sages who were always present in our Nativity displays. My father created elaborate settings for the manger that included plants, indigo-painted cardboard sky and white lights for stars. The North Star shone high above the newborn babe, making the display a true work of art. Freshly picked grass (or lettuce if snow covered the ground) was placed in a box (representative of the manger) to serve as an offering for the hungry camels that transported the Magi all the way from Persia. Our delight was evident in the early hours of dawn after receiving simple yet welcome gifts. While this may seem somewhat materialistic, forget not the childlike innocence of youth who live within the realm of magic and purity. Santa came if we were good and so did the Three Wise Men. We believed wholeheartedly that they wanted us to be happy because they loved us.
Looking back, I remember how meaningful the holidays were because of this. With a Catholic Abuelita (grandmother) who to this day attends 6 a.m. mass on a daily basis, she never let us forget the ‘reason for the season’ – to honor the birth of Jesus, a prophetic being who came to Earth to preach love, forgiveness and compassion. As I grew older and learned more about different faiths, I stepped away from Catholicism but never forgot the positive message promoted by those teachings.
We continue to celebrate Three Kings’ Day in order to pass this custom on to our own children. Since my family is so far away (Puerto Rico, Spain, Italy and Connecticut), we exchange gifts exclusively on this day. It continues to provide truth for us: a reminder that gifts are exchanged because we cherish a moment, a person and a memory. We honor the spirit of giving and believing in this life and beyond.
